Howie the sloth turns 1!

This week the Aquarium is celebrating the birthday of our very first sloth baby!

Baby Howie, a Linne’s Two-toed Sloth was born on exhibit in the Upland Tropical Rainforest on September 2, 2008. His parents, Rose and Syd as well as another adult female sloth, Ivy, have remained on exhibit with Howie as he has grown over the last year.

At birth Linne’s Sloths weigh only 1 pound and are born with their eyes opened, claws intact and fully furred. They hold tight to their mothers and rely on them for warmth, security and milk for approximately one year. By this age, the baby sloth is normally a whopping 5 pounds and ready to venture out on its own. Howie and Rose parted ways right on schedule on August 31, just 2 days shy of his first birthday. Here is a picture of Howie and Rose, just days before they parted ways:

Howie can often be seen napping or enjoying his diet of zucchini, squash and grapes. Because the sloths live nestled in the rainforest trees, they are hard to spot! During your next visit to the Aquarium’s rainforest be sure ask an exhibit guide to help you find Howie and the other sloths.

In lieu of presents, you can TXT the word ACT to 20222 to give Howie a gift! Your $5 donation will support the care and feeding of Howie and his 16,000 friends at the Aquarium.